@article {Odwe711,
author = {Odwe, George and Gray, Kate and Kyarimpa, Annet and Obare, Francis and Nagendi, Grace},
title = {Introduction of Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA-SC) Injectable Contraception at Facility and Community Levels: Pilot Results From 4 Districts of Uganda},
volume = {6},
number = {4},
pages = {711--722},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.9745/GHSP-D-18-00117},
publisher = {Global Health: Science and Practice},
abstract = {Over 1 year, the NGO-led project provided more than 14,000 units of DMPA-SC, mostly in community settings and to a substantial proportion (43\%) of young women. The share of injectables increased significantly, as did the volume of all methods provided, including short-acting, long-acting, and permanent methods.Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), a local NGO, introduced subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC, brand name Sayana Press) in 4 districts of Uganda between April 2016 and March 2017. RHU trained public and private facility providers on all family planning methods including DMPA-SC; trained community health workers (known as village health teams, VHTs) to give family planning counseling, provide short-acting methods including DMPA-SC, and make referrals for long-acting and permanent methods; conducted mobile outreach and raised awareness of family planning; and provided family planning commodities. We used a retrospective cross-sectional evaluation design drawing on data from (1) in-depth interviews with 32 facility- and community-based providers; (2) key informant interviews with 7 policy makers and program staff; and (3) family planning program statistics from 4 RHU clinics, 26 mobile outreach sites, and 40 VHTs in 4 study districts. Data collection took place between April and June 2017. Over 12 months, 14,273 units of DMPA-SC were provided in RHU clinics, by mobile outreach teams, and by VHTs. DMPA-SC units were mostly administered in community settings either by VHTs (70\%) or at mobile outreach events (26\%). A substantial proportion (43\%) of DMPA-SC units were administered to young people (\<25 years), a significantly higher proportion compared with other methods provided to this age group through the project (P\<.001), except condoms. In addition, a greater proportion of DMPA-SC units provided at the community level by VHTs were used by young people (45\%) compared with units provided at outreach (36\%) or in clinics (35\%). Overall, injectables (DMPA-SC and intramuscular DMPA combined) came to represent 43\% of all contraceptive methods provided, up from a baseline of 20\%. This shift occurred despite significant increases in the volume of all other methods provided (P\<.001). Qualitative data revealed various factors that facilitated introduction, including comprehensive training, commodity availability, strong referral links, and early community engagement. RHU{\textquoteright}s experience supports the viability of community-based delivery of DMPA-SC and identifies opportunities to strengthen this approach. There is further evidence that DMPA-SC may be popular with young people, especially in community settings.},
URL = {https://www.ghspjournal.org/content/6/4/711},
eprint = {https://www.ghspjournal.org/content/6/4/711.full.pdf},
journal = {Global Health: Science and Practice}
}